Des Moines City Council chooses Social Club to buy downtown firehouse

The Des Moines City Council unanimously chose the Des Moines Social Club as the preferred buyer for the old downtown firehouse at 900 Mulberry St.

City staffers will begin negotiating with the arts and culture nonprofit on the sale of the 75-year-old structure and the maintenance shop behind it, which the group plans to transform into a hub for arts in the metro area.

“It’s a terrific building,” said City Manager Rick Clark. “It’s iconic by any measure.”

Council members praised the Social Club for its exhaustive, 63-page proposal submitted last week while stressing the importance maintaining the building according to city requests.

City Manager Rick Clark said the Social Club must seek a historic designation for the building and that it’s use will be subject to City Council review for up to 10 years.

West End Salvage, an antique decor store, was the only other party to bid for the space.